| You do not need to be a scientist to be able to make | | | | other. The masking tape will be used for straightening |
| a bottle rocket, but you need to approach it like one, in | | | | out the fins. |
| the sense that you need to have the right tools and | | | | Take the compass and make a 4" circle. Use the |
| materials in place. | | | | scissor to slice a line from the outer circle to the |
| First gather all the necessary material you will need to | | | | center. Fold it into a funnel shape. Glue it, and add |
| construct a bottle rocket. These include a bottle of | | | | some tape. Put it at the top of your bottle, and you |
| course. Any will do, but a 1 liter size soda bottle is | | | | have its nose setup. Leave the glue overnight and then |
| preferable. | | | | you can remove the tape. |
| You will also need a bottle of rubber cement, paint | | | | Making the launching pad for the bottle rocket is easy. |
| thinner (1 can), a roll of masking tape, a hose clamp (1 | | | | Take the 2x4 wood and cut it in half. Lay them so that |
| inch) and a manila folder. | | | | each is approximately 18 inches separate from each |
| You should also have the following: a couple of 2in | | | | other, Get the 18 inch wood and put it on the 2x4 so |
| nails, two pieces of wood one measuring 2x4x12, and | | | | that both sides are resting on it. Use the screwdriver |
| another 6x1/2x18; four sheets of balsa wood (6x4); | | | | to drive a wood screw into the 18in board. Repeat the |
| five wood screws, an inch long. | | | | process on the other side, and the platform is |
| An electric junction box, a 3" thin steel (about 1/8" | | | | complete. |
| diameter); a 12" string, a copper tubing 12" long, and a | | | | Next take the junction box and inert a screw so that |
| test tube stopper. In this project the size has to be 4 | | | | the junction box is connected to the platform. Drill a |
| with an opening in the middle. | | | | hole into the box so that the test tube stopper can fit |
| As for the tools, prepare a compass, drill scissors, sand | | | | in. Put the stopper in there. Place the copper tubing into |
| paper, hammer, marker angle, air compressor, jigsaw, | | | | the stopper. Connect the air compressor with the |
| and a screwdriver. The size will vary according to the | | | | tubing using the hose clamp. |
| wood screw you selected. | | | | Get the wire and shape it into a horseshoe. Secure |
| To build the bottle rocket, begin by washing and drying | | | | the string at the center of the horseshoe, and put |
| the soda bottle. Use the paint thinner to eliminate all the | | | | inside the electrical box. Drill a hole in each 2x4 wood |
| glue, and take off the labels as well. | | | | piece, and the platform for the bottle rocket is finished. |
| Take the balsa wood, and use the market to highlight | | | | Take the launch pad outside, and hammer a couple of |
| a 5x3 shape (right triangle). Use the jigsaw to cut out | | | | nails into the base so it is attached to the ground. Pour |
| the shape, and apply the sand paper to smoothen the | | | | 20 ounces of water into the bottle, put a pin in its neck, |
| edges. These will serve as the fins of your rocket. | | | | set the air compressor to 45 psi. Pull the string and |
| Stick the fins onto the bottle with the rubber cement. | | | | watch your bottle rocket fly. |
| Make certain that they are equidistant from each | | | | |